Data study
How much fuel economy has improved since 2010, model by model
We compared EPA's ratings for the 55 models on this site that EPA rated in both 2010 and 2026: each model's most efficient gas version, its most efficient version without a plug, and what a year of fuel costs at September 2026 fuel prices.
This edition compares the 55 models on this site that EPA rated under the same name in both 2010 and 2026, from EPA's fuel economy file dated Sep 18, 2026. For each model and year it takes the best combined rating of the gas versions, the best of all versions without a plug (gas, hybrid or diesel), and EPA's yearly fuel cost for the cheapest version to run, priced at the same September 2026 fuel prices for both years. Find a model in the table or download the full table (CSV).
Key findings
- On average, each model's most efficient version gets 6.8 mpg more than in 2010. Across the 55 models, the best combined rating of a version without a plug went from 23.5 mpg on average to 30.3, up 29%. 50 of the 55 improved, two are unchanged (the Colorado and Frontier) and three are lower: the Charger and Ranger, by 1 mpg, and the Altima, which no longer comes as a hybrid (34 mpg in 2010, 30 in 2026).
- Gas engines alone gained about half as much. On the 50 models with a gas version in both years, the best gas version went from 21.7 to 25.1 mpg, a gain of 3.4 (16%). Counting hybrids and diesels, the same models gained 6.2 mpg. 43 of the 50 gas versions improved, five are unchanged and two lost 1 mpg: the Charger (21 to 20) and Ranger (24 to 23).
- The biggest gains come from hybrids. The best 2026 Sonata hybrid is rated 51 mpg; the 2010 Sonata, sold only with a gas engine, 25. The Elantra (29 to 54), Accord (25 to 48), and Sportage (22 to 42) nearly doubled, each with a hybrid its 2010 version didn't offer. On gas alone, the Rogue (24 to 32) and Tiguan (21 to 29) gained the most, 8 mpg each, followed by the Explorer, Accord, Civic, Sonata, Forester, and Jetta at 7 each.
- Twice as many of these models come as a hybrid. 22 of the 55 have a hybrid version in 2026, against 11 in 2010. Four that came with a gas engine in 2010 are sold only as hybrids in 2026, all Toyotas: the Camry, RAV4, Sequoia, and Sienna. Five of the 2010 hybrids are gone: GM's Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Tahoe, and Yukon hybrids and Nissan's Altima Hybrid. Diesels went from one, the Jetta, to five, all GM full-size pickups and SUVs.
- At September 2026 prices, a year of fuel costs about $560 less. Priced the same way for both years, at the fuel prices in EPA's file dated Sep 18, 2026, the cheapest version of each model to run, plug-in hybrids aside, costs $2,431 a year on average, against $2,988 for its 2010 version: $557 less. 45 of the 55 cost less to fuel, three cost the same and seven cost more. Five of those no longer come as a hybrid: the Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500, Tahoe, Yukon, and Altima. GM's 2026 diesels are rated higher than its 2010 hybrids, but at EPA's diesel price they cost more to fuel than the cheapest gas versions. The Charger and Ranger cost more because their best ratings fell by 1 mpg.
- Three big GM SUVs and two midsize pickups are rated the same on gas as in 2010. The best gas Suburban, Tahoe, and Yukon are rated 17 mpg, as in 2010, and the best gas Colorado and Frontier 21. The SUVs were higher in between, at 19 mpg for 2016 to 2018, and so was the Colorado, at 22 for 2015 to 2024. Diesel versions of those three SUVs, new since 2010, reach 23 to 24 mpg, but at EPA's diesel price ($6.29 a gallon) they cost more to fuel than the cheapest gas versions.
How we compared
- Source. EPA's fuel economy file, dated Sep 18, 2026, which lists every version EPA rates by engine, transmission and drive. We use the combined rating, EPA's estimate for 55% city and 45% highway driving.
- Which models. The 55 of the 94 models on this site that EPA rated under the same name in both 2010 and 2026. The other 39 are listed below.
- Best version. For each model and year, the highest combined rating among its gas versions, and among all its versions without a plug: gas, hybrid and diesel. Mild hybrids count as gas, as across the site, and a tie between a gas version and a hybrid counts as gas. Plug-in hybrid and electric versions are left out because their ratings on electricity are not on the same scale; five of the 55 models also have a 2026 plug-in hybrid in EPA's file. The 2010 Jetta diesel's 32 mpg is the estimate EPA published in 2017 for cars with Volkswagen's emissions fix.
- Averages. Every model counts once, including GM's near twins (Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500; Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon; Equinox and Terrain; Traverse, Acadia and Enclave). We have no sales figures, so the averages are not weighted by how many of each were sold. EPA's annual Automotive Trends Report tracks a different figure: the average of all new vehicles delivered for sale in the US each model year, weighted by how many were made and counting electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It reached a record 27.2 mpg for 2024 models.
- Fuel cost. EPA's yearly estimate for each version: 15,000 miles, 55% of them in the city, with both years priced at the fuel prices in EPA's file dated Sep 18, 2026 ($4.32 a gallon of regular, $5.32 premium and $6.29 diesel). Pricing both years the same way means the difference comes from efficiency, not from what fuel cost in 2010. For each model we take the version that is cheapest to run, plug-in hybrids aside.
- Two versions of EPA's method. EPA's ratings for 2008 to 2010 models use its 2008 method, which accounts for faster driving, air conditioner use and cold weather. For 2017 models EPA updated part of the calculation and adjusted its 2011 to 2016 ratings to match, but not the 2008 to 2010 ones. EPA says most ratings did not change and some went down by 1 to 2 mpg. Its file shows this for hybrids: the 2011 Prius, from the same generation as the 2010, is rated 48 mpg against 50 for the 2010. So some 2010 ratings here are likely 1 to 2 mpg higher than the current method would give, and the gains, if anything, are slightly understated.
Caveats
- The best version is often a base engine with front-wheel drive, which many buyers pass over. The table shows the best each model offered, not what a typical owner drives.
- Ratings say nothing about size, weight or power. Many 2026 models are bigger, heavier or more powerful than their 2010 versions.
- Models are matched by name, not size. The 2010 Ford Ranger was a compact pickup; the Ranger sold since 2019 is a larger midsize truck.
- EPA's ratings are estimates for comparing vehicles. Real-world fuel economy depends on how, where and in what weather a car is driven.
- This is a dated edition, built from EPA's file dated Sep 18, 2026. EPA adds and corrects ratings, so each model's MPG by year page, linked from the table, has the latest figures.
- Spotted an error? Tell us through the corrections page.
Every model, 2010 against 2026
EPA combined ratings in mpg. Best gas is the most efficient gas version; best overall is the most efficient version without a plug, with its kind when it is not gas. Fuel a year is EPA's yearly cost for the cheapest version to run, at September 2026 prices for both years. Each model links to its MPG by year page.
Compact cars · Midsize sedans · Compact SUVs · Midsize SUVs · Full-size SUVs · Off-road SUVs · Minivans · Midsize pickups · Full-size pickups · Sports and muscle cars
| Model | Best gas | Best overall | Fuel a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact cars | |||
| Honda Civic | 29 → 36 +7 | 42 → 49 +7 · hybrid | $1,550 → $1,300 −$250 |
| Hyundai Elantra | 29 → 35 +6 | 29 → 54 +25 · gas → hybrid | $2,250 → $1,200 −$1,050 |
| Mazda3 | 28 → 30 +2 | 28 → 30 +2 | $2,300 → $2,150 −$150 |
| Nissan Sentra | 29 → 33 +4 | 29 → 33 +4 | $2,250 → $1,950 −$300 |
| Toyota Corolla | 30 → 35 +5 | 30 → 50 +20 · gas → hybrid | $2,150 → $1,300 −$850 |
| Toyota Prius | – hybrid only | 50 → 57 +7 · hybrid | $1,300 → $1,150 −$150 |
| Volkswagen Jetta | 27 → 34 +7 | 32 → 34 +2 · diesel → gas | $2,600 → $1,900 −$700 |
| Midsize sedans | |||
| Honda Accord | 25 → 32 +7 | 25 → 48 +23 · gas → hybrid | $2,600 → $1,350 −$1,250 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 25 → 32 +7 | 25 → 51 +26 · gas → hybrid | $2,600 → $1,250 −$1,350 |
| Nissan Altima | 27 → 30 +3 | 34 → 30 −4 · hybrid → gas | $1,900 → $2,150 +$250 |
| Toyota Camry | 26 → – hybrid only in 2026 | 34 → 51 +17 · hybrid | $1,900 → $1,250 −$650 |
| Compact SUVs | |||
| Chevrolet Equinox | 26 → 27 +1 | 26 → 27 +1 | $2,500 → $2,400 −$100 |
| Ford Escape | 24 → 30 +6 | 32 → 39 +7 · hybrid | $2,050 → $1,650 −$400 |
| GMC Terrain | 26 → 27 +1 | 26 → 27 +1 | $2,500 → $2,400 −$100 |
| Honda CR-V | 24 → 30 +6 | 24 → 40 +16 · gas → hybrid | $2,700 → $1,600 −$1,100 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 26 → 28 +2 | 26 → 38 +12 · gas → hybrid | $2,500 → $1,700 −$800 |
| Jeep Compass | 25 → 26 +1 | 25 → 26 +1 | $2,600 → $2,500 −$100 |
| Kia Sportage | 22 → 28 +6 | 22 → 42 +20 · gas → hybrid | $2,950 → $1,550 −$1,400 |
| Nissan Rogue | 24 → 32 +8 | 24 → 32 +8 | $2,700 → $2,050 −$650 |
| Subaru Forester | 22 → 29 +7 | 22 → 35 +13 · gas → hybrid | $2,950 → $1,850 −$1,100 |
| Subaru Outback | 24 → 27 +3 | 24 → 27 +3 | $2,700 → $2,400 −$300 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 24 → – hybrid only in 2026 | 24 → 43 +19 · gas → hybrid | $2,700 → $1,500 −$1,200 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 21 → 29 +8 | 21 → 29 +8 | $3,800 → $2,250 −$1,550 |
| Midsize SUVs | |||
| Buick Enclave | 19 → 22 +3 | 19 → 22 +3 | $3,400 → $2,950 −$450 |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 19 → 22 +3 | 19 → 22 +3 | $3,400 → $2,950 −$450 |
| Ford Explorer | 17 → 24 +7 | 17 → 24 +7 | $3,800 → $2,700 −$1,100 |
| GMC Acadia | 19 → 22 +3 | 19 → 22 +3 | $3,400 → $2,950 −$450 |
| Honda Pilot | 19 → 22 +3 | 19 → 22 +3 | $3,400 → $2,950 −$450 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 23 → 24 +1 | 23 → 36 +13 · gas → hybrid | $2,800 → $1,800 −$1,000 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 18 → 23 +5 | 18 → 23 +5 | $3,600 → $2,800 −$800 |
| Lexus RX | 21 → 25 +4 | 30 → 36 +6 · hybrid | $2,650 → $2,200 −$450 |
| Nissan Murano | 20 → 23 +3 | 20 → 23 +3 | $4,000 → $2,800 −$1,200 |
| Nissan Pathfinder | 18 → 23 +5 | 18 → 23 +5 | $4,450 → $2,800 −$1,650 |
| Toyota Highlander | 22 → 24 +2 | 26 → 35 +9 · hybrid | $2,500 → $1,850 −$650 |
| Full-size SUVs | |||
| Chevrolet Suburban | 17 → 17 no change | 17 → 23 +6 · gas → diesel | $3,800 → $3,800 no change |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 17 → 17 no change | 22 → 24 +2 · hybrid → diesel | $2,950 → $3,800 +$850 |
| Ford Expedition | 16 → 19 +3 | 16 → 19 +3 | $4,050 → $3,400 −$650 |
| GMC Yukon | 17 → 17 no change | 22 → 23 +1 · hybrid → diesel | $2,950 → $3,800 +$850 |
| Toyota Sequoia | 16 → – hybrid only in 2026 | 16 → 22 +6 · gas → hybrid | $4,050 → $2,950 −$1,100 |
| Off-road SUVs | |||
| Jeep Wrangler | 17 → 21 +4 | 17 → 21 +4 | $3,800 → $3,100 −$700 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 20 → 22 +2 | 20 → 23 +3 · gas → hybrid | $3,250 → $2,800 −$450 |
| Minivans | |||
| Honda Odyssey | 20 → 22 +2 | 20 → 22 +2 | $3,250 → $2,950 −$300 |
| Toyota Sienna | 19 → – hybrid only in 2026 | 19 → 36 +17 · gas → hybrid | $3,400 → $1,800 −$1,600 |
| Midsize pickups | |||
| Chevrolet Colorado | 21 → 21 no change | 21 → 21 no change | $3,100 → $3,100 no change |
| Ford Ranger | 24 → 23 −1 | 24 → 23 −1 | $2,700 → $2,800 +$100 |
| Honda Ridgeline | 17 → 21 +4 | 17 → 21 +4 | $3,800 → $3,100 −$700 |
| Nissan Frontier | 21 → 21 no change | 21 → 21 no change | $3,100 → $3,100 no change |
| Toyota Tacoma | 22 → 23 +1 | 22 → 23 +1 | $2,950 → $2,800 −$150 |
| Full-size pickups | |||
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 18 → 20 +2 | 22 → 25 +3 · hybrid → diesel | $2,950 → $3,250 +$300 |
| Ford F-150 | 17 → 21 +4 | 17 → 24 +7 · gas → hybrid | $3,800 → $2,700 −$1,100 |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | 18 → 20 +2 | 22 → 25 +3 · hybrid → diesel | $2,950 → $3,250 +$300 |
| Ram 1500 | 16 → 22 +6 | 16 → 22 +6 | $4,050 → $2,950 −$1,100 |
| Toyota Tundra | 17 → 20 +3 | 17 → 22 +5 · gas → hybrid | $3,800 → $2,950 −$850 |
| Sports and muscle cars | |||
| Dodge Charger | 21 → 20 −1 | 21 → 20 −1 | $3,100 → $3,250 +$150 |
| Ford Mustang | 21 → 26 +5 | 21 → 26 +5 | $3,100 → $2,500 −$600 |
Models not compared
31 models on this site have no 2010 version in EPA's file. With the first year since 2010 that EPA rated them: Buick Encore GX (2020), Chevrolet Blazer (2019), Chevrolet Trax (2015), Chrysler Pacifica (2017), Dodge Durango (2011), Ford Bronco (2021), Ford Bronco Sport (2021), Ford Maverick (2022), Honda HR-V (2016), Honda Passport (2019), Hyundai Kona (2018), Hyundai Palisade (2020), Hyundai Santa Cruz (2022), Jeep Cherokee (2014), Jeep Gladiator (2020), Kia Carnival (2022), Kia K5 (2021), Kia Seltos (2021), Kia Sorento (2011), Mazda CX-30 (2020), Mazda CX-5 (2013), Mazda CX-50 (2023), Mazda CX-90 (2024), Nissan Kicks (2018), Subaru Ascent (2019), Subaru Crosstrek (2013), Tesla Model 3 (2017, electric only), Tesla Model Y (2020, electric only), Toyota Corolla Cross (2022), Toyota Grand Highlander (2024), and Volkswagen Atlas (2018).
Six have no 2026 version in EPA's file. With the last year rated: Chevrolet Malibu (2025), Ford Edge (2024), Kia Forte (2024), Kia Optima (2020), Kia Soul (2025), and Mazda CX-9 (2023).
Two have neither: the Buick Encore (2013 to 2022) and Kia Telluride (2020 to 2025; EPA lists a 2027 model but no 2026).
Models are matched by name, so the Kia Optima is not compared with the K5 that replaced it for 2021.
Sources and method
- EPA fuel economy file (vehicles.csv) dated Sep 18, 2026, and the fuel prices EPA used in it.
- EPA on its 2008 and 2017 rating methods: fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings.shtml. EPA on the revised ratings for Volkswagen diesels: fueleconomy.gov/feg/vw.shtml. EPA Automotive Trends Report 2025, executive summary (February 2026): epa.gov/automotive-trends.
- This is a dated edition: its figures stay as they were on that file. Each model's MPG by year page has the latest ratings.
Written with AI tools from the site's EPA data and reviewed by the editor. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.